The Most Heartbreaking Celebrity Deaths Of 2016

Phife Dawg

A Tribe Called Quest front man Phife Dawg was pronounced dead on March 22, 2016 at 45, as he finally fell victim to his years-long struggle with diabetes. After undergoing a kidney transplant surgery in 2008, Phife Dawg, born Malik Taylor, was not in the best health during the remainder of his adult life.

By 19, the talented rapper was featured on four of the A Tribe Called Quest debut album People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Throughout his years with the group, Phife was accredited on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time for Beats, Rhymes & Life and brought his street-savvy flow to rap group’s hip hop edge.